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Today's Haul:
- 2 styrofoam plates - recycle
- 1 plastic cup - recycle
- 1 can tuna - recycle
- 1 plastic ring from milk jug - recycle
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Day 347 - Saturday 12/13/08
Holiday Tip #12 - A Simple Gift For Parents
I can't believe it took me this long to think of this. DUH! Know any parents with small kids? Give them a homemade certificate for one night of babysitting! Let me tell you, as the father of two small kids, this is huge! We are always struggling to find babysitters and truthfully, if everyone we knew gave us one night of sitting (anyone oistening out there), we'd be psyched. When a sitter and a movie comes to close to $70 and that's without even getting somehting to eat, it means we rarely actually do it. But throw in a free night of babysitting and now you've got some potential.
Babysitting, I can't believe I hadn't thought of that!
Dave
Friday, December 12, 2008
Day 346 - Friday 12/12/08
Today's Haul:
- 1 plastic straw - recycle
- 1 paper table cover - worms
- 1 paper napkin - worms
- 1 handful edamame shells - worms
- 1 sticker from fishmonger - garbage
- 1 package from advil - garbage
- 1 broken hangar - garbage
- 2 used q-tips - worms
Day 345 - Thursday 12/11/08
Today's Haul:
- 1 box gum - recycle
- 1 foil packet from gum box - garbage
- 1 plastic spaghetti bag - recycle
Holiday Tip #11 - Help Someone Else
Most people reading this post are probably fairly blessed. The mere fact that you are reading this most likely means you are educated, have a computer or access to one, have means of some sort in order to have a computer etc. But there are a lot of people less fortunate than us, especially this year when the holidays are in the midst of an economic meltdown. If you are a gift giver by nature, why not give a few less to those you love and instead give something to someone who truly needs it. You can call your local church, synagogue, mosque or any number of other religious institutions and ask if there is a family in need you could send gifts, clothes, and or money to. Sadly, many of these organizations will know people who are hurting and they are always looking for help. Going through a religious institution is a good way to connect because they will have assessed the situation on some level to assure that the family is truly in need. Another option is the Salvation Army or your local Family Services chapter. If you've never done something like this before you'll be surprised at how great it makes you feel and it is a more powerful lesson for children than i can possibly explain. Trust me on this one. When she's twenty, Little Suzie won't recall the Peggy Barfs-A-Lot Doll but she'll remember this.
Dave
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Holiday Tip #10 - Wild Wacky Wreaths
You want a wreath on your door but your conscience says that wasting all those evergreens and whatnot just doesn't make sense. Well Good Housekeeping has it covered with info on how to make wreaths from just about everything including Dad's old ties (how cool is that?). And if you're not into the whole craft thing, here's a link to an edible wreath made out of a years supply of Rosemary, Thyme, Bay Leaves, and Chili Peppers. Enjoy it during the holidays and then keep on doing so for the whole rest of the year.
Amazon's Frustration Free Packaging Initiative
This is a really interesting idea. Amazon is starting to offer a few products in what they call Frustration Free Packaging. While their reasoning was to keep customers from getting what they call "wrap rage" the net result is that you get the thingy you bought in a recyclable box with minimal packaging, no clam shell, no plastic bubbles, just a box. It's an interesting concept because if they get the items in bulk and then repackage them this could change the whole packaging issue quite a bit. Imagine if every product offered this? Would most people seriously offer for the intensive frustrating packaging or the simple one?
If anyone takes advantage of this, please email in and let us know what the real deal is.
Dave
JunkRaft Party Saturday Night In Los Angeles
Want to see the JunkRaft in person, support a good cause, and hit up a great party all in one fell swoop? Then check out this flyer (double clicking will enlarge it). Junkraft will be there on the front lawn and you can see what it was like to travel across the pacific in it first hand.
Dave
Dave
Dave
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Day 344 - Wednesday 12/10/08
Today's Haul:
- 1 box raisin bran - recycle
- 1 bag from raisin bran - recycle
- 1 can salmon - recycle
- 1 cardboard cracker box - recycle
- 2 plastic bags form crackers - recycle
- 1 bag of dog treats - garbage
- 1 piece chewed gum in wrapper - garbage
Holiday Tip #9 - Waste Free Gift Idea - Lynda.com
Here's an easy waste free gift idea, give them a month on Lynda.com. The site is a massive compendium of video tutorials on all things computer. Learn how to edit video, compress files, or even just get your computer running smoother. If you are like me you're much better at watching a 20 minute video that actually shows as it goes than sitting and reading a pdf file. I should point out that I'm not affiliated with Lynda, get nothing from them, but use them quite a bit. You can check out lot of their videos for free but as they get more serious, they charge $25 a month. So save a little cash, help someone you love master a new skill, and waste virtually (pun intended) nothing!
Dave
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Day 343 - Tuesday 12/9/08
Today's Haul:
- 1 cardboard saline box - recycle
- 1 electronic monitor from saline box - e-waste
- 1 box from dog poop bags - recycle
- 1 veggie dogs wrapper - recycle
- 1 small compostable cup - worms
- 1 paper napkin - worms
Hope
I teach a seminar called Chasing Sustainability to school kids, primarily 6-12th graders but sometimes younger and more and more recently on up to college, home parties and offices. It's truly the best experience I have as it gives me a real chance to reach kids. As far as I'm concerned, they are the answer to the problems at hand.
When I receive an unsolicited letter like the one I got last week, I can't help but be moved. The letter below is truly one of the greatest things I have ever received. I'm sharing it (after having asked permission) because there are times when things can seem overwhelming, when the task at hand can seem too great. And at those times, it's important to have a reminder like this that shows us that each and everyone of us can have an effect, can actually make a difference. We just have to make the effort.
So thank you Jasmine, for the bravery it took to change, for the inspiration you have given me to push further, and for all of the good that I know you are going to accomplish in the future.
Dave
Double Click On The Pic And Make Sure to Read To The End
Holiday Tips #9 - Buy Used
OK, so you're trying to go light on the environment and go light on the ole pocket book. Why not get something used instead of new? The challenge of course is finding what they might want, so don't resort to last minute shopping on this one, you want to start early. Craigslist is a great resource and here's a good link to a used bookstore site that will let you know what's what in your area. And when you give someone their present, let them know why you went used instead of new, it may just change their shopping habits next year.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Day 342 - Monday 12/8/08
Today's Haul:
- 1 glass syrup bottle w/top - recycle
- 1 plastic bag basamati rice - recycle
- 1 torn plastic bag - recycle
- 1 plastic bag cashews w/sticker - garbage
- 1 blintzes box - recycle
Holiday Tip #8 - Give A Gift That Gives Less
Can't think of anything for that person who has everything? No problem. Sign them up for a year of Greendimes and help them cut out their junk mail. They plant 5 trees and save your friends time and hassle. Who could ask for more?
Dave
Could you live in 100 square feet?
Heres a great article about minimalist living. Think you could do it?
Dave
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Day 341 - Sunday 12/7/08
Today's Haul:
- 2 wooden ice cream taster sticks - worms
- 1 large wad of 5 or 6 pieces paper towel covered with glitter glue - garbage
- 1 broken dog treat bowl - garbage
- 1 large cork - recycle
- 1 bag cheeze puffs - garbage
- 1 box candies - recycle
Holiday Tip #7 - So Your Lights Won't Light
A lot of people are starting to put up holiday lights this weekend and alot of those strings are going to inexplicably not work. Fret not dear friend, help is on the way. No, I have no idea what's wrong with them, but if you finally give up on them all together, don't trash them, send them off to this company. They'll recycle the strings and send you a 15% off coupon good towards some brand spankin' new LEDs. Of course, if you just decide that holiday lights aren't really fitting into your sustainability plans, no need to buy new lights, but you can still give that coupon to a friend as an early gift right?
Thanks to joynodoubt for bringing this to my attention.
Dave
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